Molds are tiny fungi whose spores float through the air. They like damp environments and need four things to grow:  food, air, appropriate temperature and water. Molds can be found outdoors, in homes and in other buildings. Everyone breathes in mold spores in the air, but some people have an allergic reaction or asthma symptoms if exposed to too much of this fungus. If you are allergic to mold, your immune system is overly-sensitive to specific mold spores and treats them as an allergen. When you inhale the mold spores, your immune system triggers symptoms such as sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, nasal congestion or itchy nose, mouth and lips. There are hundreds of types of molds, but not all of them are responsible for causing allergy symptoms. The most common allergy-causing molds include Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Penicillium. Take our Mold Quiz Keep pace with the latest information and connect with others. Join us on Facebook and Twitter.

Mold Allergy Symptoms & Diagnosis Many people allergic to mold develop symptoms outdoors on days when mold spores are in the air. which air purifier is best ukYou may also have symptoms indoors if mold is in your home, school or workplace.air purifier london on Symptoms of mold allergy include:air cleaner assembly chevy • Itchy nose, mouth and lips • Itchy, watery eyes Mold can also trigger asthma symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath or chest tightness. Symptoms of mold allergy often mimic symptoms of other conditions. An allergist / immunologist can diagnose whether mold is responsible for your symptoms. Skin prick tests give accurate results in just a few minutes. Your allergist may order other tests, if needed.

Videos: Choosing Wisely » Mold Allergy Treatment & Management If you have a mold allergy, avoiding exposure to the allergen is the best way to manage your symptoms. •    Stay indoors on days when mold counts are high. Sign up for the NAB’s email alert to keep tabs on mold and pollen counts in your area. •    Keep away from uncut fields and avoid raking leaves. •    Take a shower after coming indoors. This will wash out mold spores in your hair to keep them from bothering you all night long. •    Eliminate mold from your home by fixing leaking faucets and pipes. •    Reduce the humidity in your home. Be sure your indoor humidity stays below 60 percent. •    Remove basement carpeting and replace with linoleum or concrete flooring that will not retain moisture. •    Clean mold off walls using a vinegar solution. In addition to managing symptoms by avoidance, your allergist may also recommend treating your symptoms with over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines, eye drops or nasal sprays.

Immunotherapy (allergy shots) are a form of treatment that provides long-term relief of symptoms. Your allergist will give you shots containing small doses of your allergen, allowing your body to build a natural immunity to the trigger. Mobile Pollen/Mold App now available! from your iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry or Android and add this app to your home screen.Mold is something that most people are familiar with to some extent, even if it is just the knowledge that it is in some way bad. By definition, mold is a fungus that can be found both indoors and outdoors, in residential areas and in commercial ones. It feeds on organic, decomposing matter and thrives in areas that are dark, damp, and humid. Often, when there is indoor mold, there is also a musty and unpleasant odor that accompanies it and alerts people to its presence. Mold spreads courtesy of spores that when disturbed float in the air and can survive conditions that mold generally cannot. Indoors, mold is one of the allergens that affect indoor air quality (IAQ) as well as people who are sensitive to it.

When people purchase one of our indoor air filters, they have the tools that they need to combat mold. Here at Air Oasis, we produce air purifiers that help to cleanse and sanitize both the air and surfaces. Our Air Sanifiers® are an effective and proven way to make any area healthier by ridding it of mold and mold spores. The best way to understand the importance of using one of our Air Sanifiers® is by understanding the potentially harmful effects of mold. How indoor mold affects a person depends on various factors, such as the amount of mold in the environment, how long a person has been exposed to it, and the individual and their health status. People who are most susceptible to mold/mold spores and their harmful effects are the elderly, infants, children, immunocompromised individuals, and people who suffer from asthma, allergies, and other respiratory conditions. The toxins that are found in certain types of mold spores, such as black mold, can enter a person’s system through the airways or skin or via absorption through the lining of the intestines.

It is these types of molds that are the most harmful with prolonged long-term exposure. Some of the severe problems that people may experience due to this type of indoor mold exposure include fevers, pneumonia, severe asthma attacks, liver damage, and opportunistic infections of the lungs, skin, and other organs in people who are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised. In rare cases, mold exposure may even cause cancer. The more mild effects of mold include allergy symptoms such as itching throat, eyes, or nose, headache, diarrhea, fatigue, or dizziness. Naturally, our customers want to reduce the health risks that are associated with mold. One of the questions that visitors to Air Oasis may have is, “Will an air purifier help with mold?” The answer to that question is a resounding yes. Air purifiers are designed to clean the air by removing allergens such as mold. Utilizing its advanced technology, our Air Sanifiers® safely kill and remove indoor mold and mold spores. We have a variety of different air purifiers, all of which will safely kill mold.

These include our countertop, portable, commercial, and in-duct models. Our nano Induct air purifiers are ideal for removing mold throughout the house, as they are placed in the HVAC system. Regardless of the model used, our air purifiers will help to eliminate the odors that are associated with mold as well. Before you buy an air purifier to combat mold and other allergens, you might want to know what the indoor air quality in your home is. You may be wondering, “Where can I learn how to test for black mold in my house?” We at Air Oasis have the answer right here. We offer an indoor air quality test kit that allows you to test either your home or office for the presence of mold as well as bacteria and yeast. These tests can be done before and after the use of an air purifier to illustrate any improvements and do not need to be sent out to a lab for results. Another, albeit more expensive, way to check for mold is to have samples taken by professionals. Professionals will have specific sampling protocols and sampling methods, and they should follow specific methods of analysis from organizations such as the American Industrial Hygiene Association, for example.